Corpus Christi is one of my favorite feast days in the Church. The beauty of the gift of the Eucharist is truly overwhelming when we really meditate upon it. Professing our faith in the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is a bold expression of our faith in his love.
This year we did our first Eucharistic procession. Since our church is just a block off the town square, I have been wanting to do one through the downtown area. This year our seminarian wanted to organize it, so he did and it was beautiful!
There is a great joy and thrill in honoring our Lord publicly in this way. I felt myself overwhelmed with emotion during communion time, with everyone receiving Jesus, uniting ourselves to Him and to one another, and then knowing that this most intimate moment would culminate in processing out of the church to proclaim to the town and the whole world that our Lord is with us, feeding us, loving us, strengthening us even now as we journey on toward Heaven! It was truly an overwhelming experience!
During the actual procession, we prayed the litany of the Eucharist and made our trip around the block through the downtown area. It was a short trip this time, I am thinking next year will be longer!!! Nevertheless cars drove by, watching us, probably thinking, "what in the world are they doing?" I felt sorry for them that they didn't yet know what blessing was passing their way. Hopefully with more catechesis and evangelization they will one day. Hopefully they too will join us one day in proudly, humbly, thankfully, walking with Jesus through the streets of Ellijay on the feast of Corpus Christi.
About Me
- Fr. Randy Mattox
- Father Randy is a priest of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, currently serving as pastor of Good Samaritan Church in Ellijay, GA.
Daily Readings
Good Samaritan Catholic Church
Fr. Randy's church in Ellijay, GA
2 comments:
Dear Father Randy,
I participated in the procession for the Feast of Corpus Christi, and like you, I felt overcome with emotion as we circled the block. I heard others make similar comments, too. It was a beautiful service in its entirety. Thanks to you and to G, our Seminarian, for giving us yet another opportunity to honor our Lord.
Hi, Father.
The Mass on the Feast of Corpus Christi and the incredible procession was oh so beautiful. It came to me that we were honoring the Real Presence of Christ in public -- what a powerful thing! I was filled and overflowing with emotion, so thankful to be there, to be Catholic.
I hope that many people in town were moved to ask what the "parade" might have been about. Wouldn't that be a great question to answer?!
The light at Mass that day was even more golden than normal. It was suffused with a special glorious quality -- the Holy Spirit, maybe? -- that lent such a sweet and soft glow to Mass.
Your homily simply blessed us. To tell of receiving Our Lord (vs. taking the consecreted host), the very act of seeking our place at the table and humbly and reverently begging our Lord to be able to receive Him in the Holy Eucharist! Could there be a more powerful gift? Could we ever receive a more meaningful or prized gift than Christ's sacrifice?
I saw your blog on new hymnals. Including some of the traditional chant and hymns with the newer music sounds perfectly wonderful. The Holy Spirit will, no doubt, aid in the decision. It would be very special to "make a joyful noise" with some of the beautiful traditional music of the churh.
Thank you, Father, as always, for the great and good things you give to all of us every day -- in prayer, your vision of Good Samaritan's future, and the actions you take, all by the grace of God.
Thanks, too, for sharing/blogging your joy and your special awareness of grace
Days of Grace, indeed!
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